TWO research papers from Central Luzon State University (CLSU) won top honors at the 8th JAAP International Research and Development Conference held June 18 and 19 at Negros Oriental State University (Norsu), recognizing the university’s work in harmful algal bloom research and tilapia breeding.
Faculty researcher Garry Benico of the CLSU College of Science and head of the Algal Diversity and Bioresources (ADB) Laboratory won first place in the Oral Paper Presentation for the Science and Health category. Meanwhile, Ma. Andrea Dismaya, a research assistant at the CLSU Freshwater Aquaculture Center (FAC) and College of Fisheries, received the Best Poster Presenter award.
Benico’s paper, “Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in the Philippines: Distribution, Taxonomy, and Emerging Threats,” documented the diversity and distribution of bloom-forming microalgae in Philippine waters and examined their effects on fisheries, aquatic ecosystems and public health.
The study also explored how climate change and nutrient pollution are contributing to the increasing occurrence of HABs, underscoring the need for stronger monitoring systems and science-based management strategies to reduce their impact.
Dismaya’s poster, “Upscaling of FaST Strain Breeding Nucleus for Wider Dissemination of Quality Broodstocks and Fingerlings for the Tilapia Industry,” was co-authored with Karl Marx Quaizon, director of the Freshwater Aquaculture Center and president of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Alumni Association of the Philippines.
The project focuses on expanding breeding stocks of the FAC Selected Tilapia (FaST) strain to increase the supply of improved broodstock and fingerlings for fish farmers. By making quality breeding material more widely available, the initiative aims to boost productivity, strengthen genetic improvement efforts and support the long-term sustainability of the country’s tilapia industry.
The conference, themed “Empowering Research, Shaping Resilient Futures: Global Collaboration for Scientific Innovation,” brought together researchers, scientists, educators and industry practitioners to present new findings and foster research collaboration.
The awards highlight CLSU’s contributions to two areas of growing importance to Philippine food security and environmental management. Benico’s research supports efforts to better understand and manage harmful algal blooms that threaten fisheries and public health, while Dismaya’s work seeks to improve the supply of quality tilapia stocks for the country’s aquaculture sector.
